Stanly County to hear about rezoning request, art restoration

Published 10:13 am Friday, August 2, 2024

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A rezoning request, a new county economic director and the art at the county’s main library location are among the items listed for this Monday’s meeting of the county’s Board of Commissioners.

The rezoning request is for an eight-acre part of a 16-acre tract on N.C. Highway 24-27 at Newsome Road. Garrett Smith has requested the county change the zoning on the land from residential/agricultural (R/A) to County General Business (GB).

According to the agenda packet, Smith plans to construct a welding and fabrication shop and have 12 employees. The land is in a secondary growth area of the 2040 Stanly County Land Use Plan.

A public hearing has been scheduled for Monday along with a request for commissioners to approve, deny or modify the request.

Commissioners will also be formally introduced to Elizabeth Underwood, the new director of the Stanly County Economic Development Commission. Underwood formerly worked for Lake Norman Economic Development for three years as workforce development manager, and previously was an economic development specialist for Beaufort County.

Also on the agenda is a presentation by Commissioner Peter Asciutto regarding the restoration of the George Bierline abstract art sculptures at the Stanly County Public Library in downtown Albemarle.

Asciutto asked County Manager Andy Lucas to get a quote from Carver Painting of Richfield, for an estimated cost of $2,700, to restore the sculptures to their original color, along with an extra $1,000 for a proposed sign to identify the art.

“The sculptures were part of the original library,” Asciutto said in a phone interview Thursday. “To me, it is our responsibility to upkeep it and showcase it as a piece of art for downtown.”

Other items include commissioner approval of an acknowledgement letter between the West Stanly Volunteer Fire Department and Home Trust Bank in Asheville for a $2.56 million loan. The department has stated its plans previously to improve base 46 in Locust.

The proposed tax-exempt loan for the department would be for 15 years with a 5.3% fixed interest rate.

Commissioners will also consider a resolution to request consideration by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners to include a legislative goal of enhanced land use protections for agricultural purposes.

Monday’s meeting will start at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre room at Stanly Commons.

About Charles Curcio

Charles Curcio has served as the sports editor of the Stanly News & Press for more than 16 years and has written numerous news and feature storeis as well. He was awarded the NCHSAA Tim Stevens Media Representative of the Year and named CNHI Sports Editor of the Year in 2014. He has also won an award from Boone Newspapers, and has won four North Carolina Press Association awards.

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